Dr Adnan Fazal

Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering

Email:: adnan.fazal@bcu.ac.uk

Dr Adnan Fazal received his first formal qualification in engineering (HNC/HND Diploma) from the Polytechnic Institute in his hometown Swat (Pakistan) and followed this with an apprenticeship in industry. Adnan pursued his higher education in the UK, completing a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering and PhD in engineering at the University of Hull.

Adnan is a Chartered Engineer, Fellow of the IMechE, and Senior Fellow of the HEA. His expertise spans advanced polymer/composites, pre-stressing technologies, materials characterisation, cable insulation systems, and additive manufacturing.

Adnan began his research career in the field of advanced engineering materials at the University of Hull, where he investigated polymer fracture toughness with an emphasis on fracture mechanics and the processing of materials. As a Research Fellow at the University of Southampton, his research focused on polymers mechanics and processing of crosslinking. At the Tony Davies High Voltage Laboratory (University of Southampton) he developed insulation material for advanced new generation high voltage DC cables using cross-linked polyethylene for enhanced breakdown performance. This work had a particular focus on the influence of polymer morphology, and particularly its effects on the electrical, mechanical and thermal properties of the material.

Over the past 25+ years, Adnan has worked across academia, research, and industry to advance materials capable of delivering higher performance, reduced weight, improved durability, and sustainable engineering solutions.

Alongside research activities, Adnan remains deeply passionate and committed to engineering education, student success, and leadership. He is actively involved in Access, Participation and Success initiatives at BCU while also overseeing programme development, curriculum enhancement, assessment leadership, and student progression strategies.

Areas of Expertise

Qualifications

Memberships

Teaching

Research

Publications

M. Hao, A. Fazal et al. The effect of semicon on space charge behaviour under different temperature conditions for HVDC cable insulation. The 2nd (Cigre) International Conference on High Voltage Direct Current - HVDC, (Shanghai – China). https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/402450/

M. Hao, A. Fazal et al. The impacts of degassing on space charge characteristics and DC conductivity in semicon-bonded XLPE for HVDC cable applications. IEEE Conference on Electrical Insulation and Dielectric Phenomena - CEIDP, (Toronto – Canada). DOI: 10.1109/CEIDP.2016.7785533 (https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/7785533?reload=true)

M. Hao, A. Fazal et al. The impacts of the temperature and electric field on the electrical characteristics in semicon-bonded XLPE insulation. 5th IEEE International Conference on High Voltage Engineering and Application - ICHVE, (Chengdu – China). DOI: 10.1109/ICHVE.2016.7800830 (https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/7800830)

A. Fazal, M. Hao et al. The effect of composition and processing on electric characteristics of XLPE in HVDC cable applications. 34th IEEE Electrical Insulation Conference - EIC, 440-43, (Montreal – Canada). DOI: 10.1109/EIC.2016.7548632 (https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/7548632)

M. Hao, A. Fazal et al. The effect of electrode material and semicon bonding on space charge dynamics of XLPE. 1st IEEE International Conference on Dielectrics- ICD, 200-03, (Montpellier – France). DOI: 10.1109/ICD.2016.7547579 (https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/7547579)

K.S. Fancey and A. Fazal. Prestressed Polymeric Matrix Composites: Longevity Aspects. Polymer Composites, 37(7), 2092-97. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pc.23387

A. Fazal and K.S. Fancey. Performance Enhancement of Nylon/Kevlar Fiber Composites Through Viscoelastically Generated Pre-Stress. Polymer Composites, 35(5), 931-38. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pc.22737

A. Fazal and K.S. Fancey. UHMWPE fibre-based composites: prestress-induced enhancement of impact properties. Composites Part B, 66, 1-6. (Listed in the top 25 most downloaded articles published for the period July-October). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2014.04.031

A. Fazal and K.S. Fancey. Polymer Matrix Composites: Performance Enhancement Through Viscoelastically Generated Pre-stress. 22nd International Conference on Composites/Nano Engineering, (St-Julien – Malta).

A. Fazal. Polymer fibre composites: investigation into performance enhancement through viscoelasticity generated pre-stress. (University of Hull - Doctoral Thesis). https://hydra.hull.ac.uk/resources/hull:11063

A. Fazal and K.S. Fancey. Viscoelastically generated prestress from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibres. Journal of Materials Science, 48(16), 5559-70. DOI:10.1007/s10853-013-7350-5 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10853-013-7350-5

A. Fazal and K.S. Fancey. Viscoelastically prestressed polymeric matrix composites – Effects of test span and fibre volume fraction on Charpy impact characteristics. Composites Part B, 44(1), 472-79. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2012.04.004

K.S. Fancey and A. Fazal. The long-term performance of viscoelastically prestressed polymeric matrix composites. 17th International Conference on Composite Structures - ICCS-17, (Porto – Portugal).

A. Fazal and K.S. Fancey. Performance enhancement of Kevlar fibre composites through viscoelastically generated prestress. 17th International Conference on Composite Structures - ICCS-17, (Porto – Portugal).

A. Fazal and K.S. Fancey. Fracture mechanisms of fibre reinforced polymers and enhancement in impact energy absorption through pre-stressing technique. Materials (submitted 2026, in-review).

E. Issaka, L. Melville, A. Fazal et al. Covalent organic frameworks: A review of synthesis methods, properties and applications for per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances removal. Clean Technology Environmental Policy, 27, 833-60 (2024). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-024-03102-8

E. Issaka, L. Melville and A. Fazal. A review on enzymatic colorimetric assays for organophosphate and carbamate pesticides detection in water environments. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, 211 (2025). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106423

E. Issaka, E. Danso-Boateng, A. Fazal, L. Melville and M. Adams. Algae biomass for energy generation: a comprehensive review of recent advances, mechanisms and bottlenecks. Sustainable & Green Materials (2025). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/29965292.2025.2515823

E. Issaka, A. Fazal, L. Melville. Silver nanoparticles: A review of the synthesis, properties, characterisation and application in the colourimetric assay of pesticides. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 78 (2025). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2025.108761

E. Issaka, L. Melville and A. Fazal. Functional Polymer Composites for Biomedical Innovation: A Review on Classification, Fabrication, and Future Applications. International Journal of Polymer Science, 2026 (2026). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/ijps/7812179